In a meeting between the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), Proscovia Nabbanja, the CEO of UNOC, emphasized that terrorism, vandalism, fires, explosions, and oil spills continue to pose significant risks to the oil industry. Despite efforts to address these challenges, Nabbanja highlighted the need for ongoing vigilance and collaboration.
The meeting, chaired by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Wilson Mbadi, took place on September 15, 2023, at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala. The primary objective was to explore potential areas of cooperation between the two entities in order to ensure the success of Uganda’s oil and gas exploration.
During her presentation, Nabbanja expressed her appreciation to the UPDF for their role in securing the country and beyond. She pledged to foster collaboration and cooperation with all stakeholders to ensure the prosperity of Uganda’s oil and gas sector.
“In an effort to build local content for the project, joint ventures have been encouraged, quarterly capacity-building meetings have taken root and banks have been encouraged to provide cheap loans to suppliers and oil modules incorporated in most training manuals among others,” Nabbanja added.
Gen Wilson Mbadi praised UNOC for the progress achieved thus far in Uganda’s oil and gas industry. Recognizing the industry’s significance as a critical resource, he emphasized the importance of a stable and secure country for successful extraction and refining.
Mbadi called for increased collaboration, particularly in the security field, emphasizing that development is contingent upon maintaining a secure environment. He urged the delegation to explore opportunities for partnership in the oil sector to benefit the people of Uganda and contribute to the pursuit of Pan Africanism.
The meeting was attended by senior UPDF officers, including Deputy CDF Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, Joint Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Leopold Kyanda, Deputy Director of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Innocent Oula, Commander 1 Div Brig. Gen. Joseph Ssemwanga, Director of Training Brig. Twinamatsiko, and Chief Personnel and Administration Brig. Gen. James Kinalwa.
Representatives from UNOC included Dr. Michael Mugerwa, the General Manager of Uganda Refinery Holding Company, Peter Muliisa, the Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer of UNOC, Gilbert Kamuntu, the Chief Commercial Officer of UNOC, and Sarah Banage, Head of Corporate Affairs at UNOC.
Ensuring the security of the oil industry is of paramount importance, as highlighted by Proscovia Nabbanja. Collaboration between the UPDF and UNOC, in conjunction with other stakeholders, is vital to mitigate the potential risks and safeguard the success of Uganda’s oil and gas sector.
